This SPEC Kit explores the changing role of the library liaison, the shifting goals and strategies of liaison programs at ARL member libraries, and the factors that influence these changes on an institutional level. This study covers liaison services objectives and policies, assignment of liaison responsibilities, level of department participation, administration and evaluation of services, how liaisons are trained, and the benefits and challenges of offering such services. This SPEC Kit includes examples of liaison services websites; descriptions of liaison responsibilities, competencies, and goals; job descriptions of staff who provide these services; and reports on changes to liaison models.

Wikis have emerged as powerful platforms for facilitating and improving communication and collaboration between library staff, users, and professional peers. Wikis for Libraries gives you the practical tools and easy-to-follow guidance you need to establish an effective wiki in your own library. Author Lauren Pressley walks you through each step, from the first stages of planning to post-evaluation measures. You’ll learn how to choose between different types of wikis and software and plan for, create and implement your wiki on the web. Pressley shares advice for marketing and promoting your wiki, as well as tips for measuring success and best practices to follow throughout the start-to-finish process. Whether you are a wiki novice or a seasoned pro, this book will enable you to build wikis to support special events, serve as a library instruction tool, create valuable online resources-- to name just a few applications of this popular collaboration tool.

Librarians tend to love their work and consider librarianship a great career. This book is by a talented librarian who wants to introduce people to the profession. If you are attracted to becoming a librarian, you will find answers to a lot of your questions here: What do librarians do? What are the different types of libraries and professional jobs in libraries? What is the story behind the profession? What are librarians all about and what hot issues do they discuss in their professional lives? What do I do to become a librarian? What are some important things to know once I'm in a masters program in library science? This book is an essential introduction to the profession for people who are at the point of choosing a career.